took someone at their word

A form of take someone at their word — To take someone literally even though they may not have been serious; to take someone seriously even though they were joking; to take up a challenge that was initially meant as a joke.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of take someone at their word
Cite this entry
APA

took someone at their word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/took%20someone%20at%20their%20word

MLA

“took someone at their word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/took%20someone%20at%20their%20word. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “took someone at their word,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/took%20someone%20at%20their%20word.

Source: took someone at their word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.